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Free Advice for Owners of Ancient Woodland

· Do you have an area of ancient woodland which has been planted with conifers?

· Is your ancient woodland being taken over by invasive species such as rhododendron, Japanese knotweed or Himalayan balsam?

· If so, free no obligation support is available to all eligible woodland owners in the South East and East of England.

· All eligible woodland owners can request a free ancient woodland restoration survey and report, which will include a site-specific restoration plan and pragmatic woodland management recommendations which could be used to inform a wider woodland management plan.

· Further consultancy support may be available for planning and carrying out the ancient woodland restoration work.

This project aims to identify and survey ancient woodland sites (PAWS) which are adversely affected by non-native conifers and invasive species, such as rhododendron, Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam. A PAWS is a Plantation on an Ancient Woodland Site.

The unique flora and habitat of ancient woodland is often compromised when non-native species invade or are planted on ancient woodland sites, and this project aims to work with woodland owners to identify areas of ancient woodland which would benefit from some restoration work to remove those threats and protect these precious habitats for the future.

A no obligation detailed survey, assessment and proposed restoration plan for PAWS will be produced free of charge for all eligible woodland owners who request this survey.

For more information on the Woodland Trust's Ancient Woodland Restoration Project, take a look at the Woodland Trust's website

Local conservation and woodland advisor Meg Chambers is working to deliver this project under the umbrella of FWAG South East, who have been selected by the Woodland Trust as one of their approved consultancies to deliver their Ancient Woodland Restoration Project across the South East and East of England. She can be contacted by email meg.chambers@hotmail.co.uk or on 07581 396339